Ryan Bradley | May 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
5 Mistakes to Avoid After a Motorcycle Accident in St. Louis
Key Takeaways:
- Acting quickly after a motorcycle accident is crucial. Stay at the scene, document everything, and seek medical attention immediately.
- Refrain from providing recorded statements to insurance adjusters. Missouri’s comparative fault laws mean your words may end up twisted to reduce your settlement.
- Hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to protect your rights. They can level the playing field and fight hard for maximum compensation.
You’re lying on the pavement, your motorcycle scattered across the road. Pain shoots through your body. In this moment of shock and confusion, and in the days afterward, what you do can make or break your compensation claim.
Making crucial mistakes can jeopardize your health, legal rights, and financial recovery. Insurance companies don’t have your best interests at heart after a crash—they’re likely already calculating how to minimize your payout while you’re still in the hospital.
Here are the five most damaging mistakes motorcycle accident victims make and how you can avoid them.
1. Leaving the Accident Scene Too Quickly
That rush of adrenaline after a crash may not only mask serious injuries but could also cloud your judgment. You might just want to pick up your bike and leave, especially if you’re not feeling any pain or think the accident was minor.
Why this matters:
- You could be breaking the law. Missouri law requires you to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $500 to law enforcement.
- You may be injured without realizing it. Some typical traffic accident injuries, like traumatic brain injury (TBI) or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms but require immediate medical help.
What to do instead:
When involved in a motorcycle accident, even if it seems minor, consider staying at the scene until police arrive and complete their report. You’ll also want to exchange information with all involved parties and eyewitnesses to the accident. If you are able, take photos of everything—vehicle damage and positions, license plates, road conditions, and your injuries.
2. Giving Recorded Statements to Insurance Companies
That friendly insurance adjuster who calls while you recover doesn’t care about your healing. They hope to catch you off guard when asking for a “quick statement” about the accident.
Why this matters:
- Adjusters are trained to minimize claims. Insurance adjusters ask questions designed to shift blame onto you or minimize your injuries. Since Missouri follows comparative fault rules, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies try to exploit comparative fault rules to their advantage.
What to do instead:
No law requires you to give a statement to the other party’s insurance company. Politely decline to give recorded statements without your attorney present. Stick to the basic facts when you’re reporting the accident to your insurer. And carefully document your claim. Make sure you keep all documentation and communication with insurance companies, including dates and names.
Perhaps the best thing to do is to protect yourself by letting an attorney handle all communication with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
3. Accepting the First Settlement Offer
Insurers know what they are doing when they rush to make an offer before you’re even out of the hospital bed. They hope to catch you at a vulnerable time, with medical bills mounting and desperate to get compensation. Tread carefully, as they want to close your case before you understand its true value.
Why this matters:
- Early settlement offers are usually far too low. They rarely account for your future medical needs and lost earning capacity. Once you sign a release, you are trapped and can’t ask for more compensation, even if your injuries worsen. While accepting a quick settlement is tempting, it usually means leaving money on the table.
What to do instead:
While it’s natural to look for quick compensation for mounting bills, it’s best to wait until you reach maximum medical improvement before considering a settlement offer. Work with a St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney who can calculate all your damages, including future medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Remember: Insurance companies don’t offer quick settlements to do you a favor, but to save money. Missouri law generally gives you five years to file a lawsuit, so don’t let an insurer rush you into accepting a settlement offer if it isn’t in your best interests.
4. Posting About Your Accident on Social Media
The urge to update friends and family or vent about your accident on Facebook or Instagram is natural. You might want to share photos of your wrecked bike or post updates about your injuries.
Why this matters:
- Insurers may monitor your social media account. Expect an insurance company to fish for any information that could hurt your case. That innocent photo of you at a family bike ride could be used to argue your injuries aren’t as extensive as you claim. Even a simple “I’m feeling better today” can be twisted to minimize your pain. Once these posts exist, they’re nearly impossible to exclude from evidence.
What to do instead:
Refrain from posting any details about your crash or recovery online, and set all social media accounts to private immediately after your accident. Ask friends and family not to tag you in any pictures or posts. And don’t post photos of yourself engaging in physical activities while your claim for medical expenses and pain and suffering damages is pending.
Consider taking a complete break from social media until your case is done and dusted. What seems like an innocent post could be the perfect ammunition for an insurance company looking to deny your claim.
5. Trying to Handle Your Claim Without an Attorney
After a motorcycle crash, you’re already dealing with physical pain, emotional trauma, bike repairs, and missed work. Taking on insurance companies alone, on top of all the other challenges, adds stress and overwhelm during your recovery.
Why this matters:
- Insurers are experts at claim denial. They have teams of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers working to minimize, delay, or even refuse your payout. Without legal representation, you’re facing an uphill struggle against professionals whose job it is to deny claims.
What to do instead:
Consult with a St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after your motorcycle accident. Make sure to choose an attorney with specific experience handling and successfully resolving motorcycle cases. Not only will your case be handled professionally, but you can also focus your energy on recovery.
Make sure that your personal injury attorney works on contingency fees, so if you don’t win, you won’t have to pay attorney’s fees.
The Clock Is Ticking – Contact Bradley Law For Help Today
Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you five years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but building a strong motorcycle accident case requires prompt investigation. The sooner you seek legal help, the better your chances of recovering fair compensation and getting your life back on track.
At Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped several motorcycle accident victims recover comprehensive settlements, including multi-million-dollar recoveries. Our attorneys know how to take on powerful insurers and fight for what you truly deserve.
Don’t let simple mistakes cost you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options.